Articles for July 11th, 2012

Landmark Vineyards Blends Its Way Through Dallas

posted by Hayley Hamilton | July 11th, 2012 2:16pm | filed under Chef's tasting, Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing |

Last night Landmark Vineyards winemaker Greg Stach led a group of Dallas media through a unique blending experience creating a true hands on approach to the process that he and his winemaking team go through each year to make their award winning Overlook Chardonnay.  I was an invited guest of the winery.  Though the process we went through last night only included 4 Chardonnay samples from four of the vineyards Landmark sources their fruit from each year, it was easy to see how each flavor added to the character of the final wine. Each year Greg and his team go through this blending practice to make their signature label with fruit from 23 different vineyards and about 46 individual vineyard blocks, each with their own style, structure, aroma and flavor that when blended come together to create one balanced wine.   Continue reading "Landmark Vineyards Blends Its Way Through Dallas"

Sushi Axiom Offers New Menu

posted by Andrew Chalk | July 11th, 2012 1:13pm | filed under Andrew Chalk, Restaurant News, sushi |

Strawberry Stars with fresh mint and strawberry (left); Crab Puffer with three crispy wonton skins (right) photos by Melisa Oporto

Sushi Axiom on Henderson in Dallas has new owners and a new menu. Last night they hosted a media tasting event to show some of their new dishes. Highlights included a ‘Crab Puffer’ (crispy wonton skins with a filling of crab, cream cheese, and onion) that many could call crab Rangoon. The filling was sublime. Cucumber sunomono–thin slices of cucumber in rice wine dressing with a slice of octopus and a shrimp–was also outstanding. Tuna was served two ways: One with Cajun tuna nigiri accompanied by toro nigiri. We asked for, and got, some pickled ginger which got amazing applause in its own right as well as being a good match with the tasty tuna. Jump for more. Continue reading "Sushi Axiom Offers New Menu"

SideDish is Sick. Please Pray for Us

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 11th, 2012 12:24pm | filed under Bad critters, Buzz Killer! | 3 Comments »

Thanks for all of your emails, texts, and voice mails. SideDish has contracted a wretched case of ETD. In the meantime, we invite you to sing along with us!

3 Comments »

Panera Bread and Chipotle Now Feature Sous-Vide Cooking

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 11th, 2012 10:39am | filed under AgriBusiness, Hot dogs are the new hamburger, questionable behavior, questionable judgment, restaurant business news, Slow News Day |

It seems like only yesterday we were all marveling at the new wave in techno cooking: the process of sous-vide. The circulators and gadgets looked fancy and complicated and the results were certainly impressive.

Fast forward to the real yesterday and the story in the Huffington Post: How Sous Vide Went From Haute Cuisine To Casual Dining. Writer Carey Polis tells us how large franchises such as Chipotle and Panera Bread have embraced the sous-vide technique and are now featuring boil-in-a-bag items on their menus.

Anybody else out there remember Stouffer’s or Banquet boil-in-a-bag dinners? If so, perhaps your mom was also an early pioneer (Tomasina Keller?) of sous-vide cooking when she slit open a thick plastic bag and poured chipped beef or Chicken ala King over semi-burnt toast.

Continue reading "Panera Bread and Chipotle Now Feature Sous-Vide Cooking"

‘Burbalicious: What I Ate in Murphy

posted by Carol Shih | July 11th, 2012 10:37am | filed under 'Burbalicious, Burgers | 6 Comments »

Country burger with mustard, lettuce, onion, pickles and tomato (photos by Carol Shih)

To gear you guys up for July’s Best Suburbs issue, I’m traveling to ten different ‘burbs in the DFW area for a semi-weird cross-city food tour. I’ll be documenting all my finds in these ‘Burbalicious posts that’ll be peppered throughout June and July. If you feel like your suburb deserves a shot at some SideDish love, email me and I’ll ask my Magic 8 ball if I should go.

I was in the midst of composing a Shakepeare sonnet for this Country Burger (est. 1973) post, but I decided against it. I can already predict what the comments might say. They’d mostly be some variation of “you suck” and “your poetry makes me want to rip my hair out.”

Here’s the thing: I went to Parker last week and seriously considered eating grass or a whole cow since there was nothing edible in that town. The landscape looked at me, and I looked back at it, my stomach still growling. Good church-goers pointed me towards Murphy, which pretty much looked like the Promise Land of food at that time. I was hopeful. The grass looked way greener over yonder in Murphy.

Do the burger jump. Continue reading "‘Burbalicious: What I Ate in Murphy"

6 Comments »

Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Chicken Salad in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 11th, 2012 9:25am | filed under chickens, Sandwiches, Somebody Help | 18 Comments »

She’s looking for a restaurant or store that makes chicken salad “her way.” Why she doesn’t make it herself is a mystery but she asks you to pull out your crystal ball and make her life perfect. Hear her plea:

Hi Nancy! I know you get lots of questions but I am having a large (50+) baby shower for a friend and I want to serve an old fashioned chicken salad. I love my recipe which has shredded chicken, grapes, and almonds. I put a scoop inside a half a mango and serve. Do you know any big place that would make a batch like this for me? Would love it if you could ask your readers! Thanks!!!!

There is your task. Complete it.

18 Comments »